Pediatric Hearing Services
Specialized hearing care for children to support their speech, language, and developmental needs.
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Expert Care for Young Ears
At Hearing Doctors of the Heartland, we understand that children's hearing health requires specialized attention and care. Our pediatric hearing services are designed to detect, diagnose, and treat hearing concerns in children of all ages, from infants to adolescents. Our team uses child-friendly testing methods and up-to-date technology to accurately evaluate your child's hearing ability. We work closely with families to create effective treatment plans that support communication development and academic success.
The Impact of Early Detection
Hearing loss can affect more than just your child's ears. Undiagnosed hearing issues can have significant impacts on speech and language development as well as social skills. Our sense of hearing helps us develop vocabulary at a normal pattern and rate, and delays in this development can adversely affect academic achievement and future work environments. Even hearing loss in just one ear can cause difficulty hearing in background noise and locating sounds, affecting a child's ability to learn and interact with others.
Supports proper speech and language development
Improves classroom learning and academic performance
Enhances social interaction and emotional well-being
Prevents developmental delays related to hearing issues
Signs of potential hearing loss vary by age. In younger children, look for: not startling to loud sounds, not turning toward sounds after 6 months of age, not verbalizing speech by age 1, appearing to hear some sounds but not others, asking for repetition or responding incorrectly to questions, being overly responsive to visual stimuli versus auditory stimuli, appearing to talk loudly, or delayed speech development. Older children may show simplified sentence structure, difficulty understanding complex sentences, or speech that's difficult to understand.
Our comprehensive pediatric hearing evaluations include an extensive case history, otoscopic examination of the ear canal and eardrum, tympanometry to check eardrum movement, age-appropriate hearing tests, speech testing, and otoacoustic emission testing that measures how the inner ear responds to sound. The specific testing methods will vary depending on your child's age and developmental level.
All newborns should receive a hearing screening before leaving the hospital. If your child passed this initial screening but you have concerns about their hearing or speech development, a comprehensive evaluation is recommended at any age. Children who are at higher risk for hearing loss or who have had frequent ear infections should have regular hearing assessments.
We use specialized testing methods for younger children that don't require verbal responses. For infants and toddlers, we observe behavioral responses to sounds (like eye widening or head turning) and use objective measures such as otoacoustic emissions testing that doesn't require active participation from your child.
Treatment depends on the type and degree of hearing loss. Options may include hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices, speech therapy, or medical interventions. We work closely with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care for your child.
Hearing loss can impact language acquisition, reading skills, attention in the classroom, and overall academic performance. We can work with your child's educational team to implement appropriate accommodations and support services to ensure they have equal access to learning opportunities.
Comprehensive Support for Children with Hearing Loss
When a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, it's natural for parents to feel concerned, anxious, and overwhelmed. At Hearing Doctors of the Heartland, our trained audiologists will guide you through the process of diagnosing and managing your child's hearing loss. Using our extensive knowledge of auditory development, we ensure our patients and their families understand all available options for communication, while our ties to the community provide appropriate referrals for services outside our scope of practice.
We recognize that effective management of pediatric hearing loss requires a multidisciplinary approach. Depending on your child's specific needs, we may collaborate with speech-language pathologists, educational audiologists, geneticists, pediatricians, ENT specialists, deaf education specialists, and teachers. This team approach ensures your child receives comprehensive support for their hearing, communication, and educational needs.
There are different communication approaches available for children with hearing loss, including manual communication (sign language), auditory verbal, auditory oral, cued speech, and total communication methods. At Hearing Doctors of the Heartland, we recognize the importance of making an informed decision about your child's path to communication after the detection and diagnosis of hearing loss, based on your child's abilities and your family's long-term goals.
Partner with Us for Your Child's Hearing Health
Early identification and intervention are crucial for children with hearing loss. At Hearing Doctors of the Heartland, we're committed to providing compassionate, thorough care to support your child's hearing health and overall development. Our advanced diagnostic techniques, including real ear verification measures for hearing aid fittings, ensure accurate assessment and effective treatment.
Don't wait if you have concerns about your child's hearing. Contact your nearest Hearing Doctors of the Heartland location in Iowa or Illinois to schedule a comprehensive pediatric hearing evaluation. Our team of specialists is ready to provide the expert care your child deserves and guide your family through every step of the hearing healthcare journey.